Jack



W. J. COSTI N JACK July i6, 1935.

Filed Sept. 17, 1954 INVENTOR,

/I TTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE Wesley J. Costin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application September 17, 1934, Serial No. 744,336

i Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the construction of jacks for lifting, lowering, moving, or distorting objects, and which are especially adapted for use in repairing 5 damaged automobile parts such as frames, bodies,

same is subjected to heavy loading. It has been found that all of the prior jack mechanisms which have been used commercially for this class of service are decidedly subject to jamming when loaded, thereby making it impossible to reverse and to remove the jack structures whenever desired. The prior commercial jacks of this type are, moreover, deficient in power and are so bulky v and complicated in construction as to make their use extremely cumbersome and unreliable.

It is therefore a more specific obj ect of the present invention to provide an improved jack strucv ture which overcomes all of these and other defects of the prior jacks of this general type, and which, besides being durable and powerful, is readily manipulable at all times and will not jam even when subjected to maximum loading.

Another specific object ofthe invention is to provide a new and useful jack mechanism which is highly iiexible in use, and which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost.

These and other objects and advantages Will be apparent from the following specific description. l

A clear conception of an embodiment of the several improved features, and of the mode of constructing and of manipulating jacks built in accordance with the present invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled jackA Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section thru thel actuating mechanism of the jack, showing the reversing tumbler in lowering position; Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of the jack actuating mechanism, showing the reversingtuby bler in elevating position;

Fig. 5 isva transverse, vertical section thru, the jack taken along the irregular line 5--5 of Fig.` 3; Fig. 6 is a transverse, horizontal section thru the jack taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; and

Figl is a side elevation of the reversing tumbler alone.

While the invention has been specifically shown herein as beingapplied to an automobile repair jack of a particular type, it is not intended to thereby limit the scope since some of the novel features may obviously be applicable to other types ofjack structures.

leferr'ingV to the drawing, the improved jack comprises generally a power-transmitting column I0 which is preferably formed ofV a rectangularsectioned tube having a series of teeth II milledv in one side thereof; a'bracketIZ snugly fitting andl movable along the column I0; upper and lower pawls I3, I4 respectively, pivotally supported and housed within the bracket I 2 a hand lever I5 for actuating thepawls I3, I4; and re-V versing mechanism including a manually adjust able tumbler I6 carried by the bracket I2 and cooperable with the pawls I 3, I4 to control the action thereof.

The column IIJ may be of any suitable length and is preferably formed of steel, and the notches or teeth are preferably formed as shownin Figs, 4 and 5, with flat lower surfaces disposed per# pendicular to the column I0. The opposite ends of the column IU may be provided with transverse `holes as shown for the reception Vof pins Il which are adapted to lock a jaw I8 or an eX- tension tube I9 to the column, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, and the jaw I8 is attachable to either end' of the column I0, or to an end of the extension tube I9, as shown. The extension tube I9 may be of any desired length and may either be locked to the column I0 by pins I'I as shown in Fig. 2, or it may merely be slipped over-the end of the column III and caused to rest upon the vbracket I2 so that this bracket will cause the tube I9 to telescope upon the column IU,

The bracket I2 may be formed of cast steel or other suitable material and hasA a movable jaw 20 formed integral therewith and cooperable with the jaw i8 for diverse purposes. indicated, the bracket I2 embraces, but is freely movable along, the column Ill in either direction, except when such movement is restrained by As previously A the upper and lower pawlsk I3, I4. rI'he movable jaw 20 may also be provided with an 'opening A'itsvopposite ends coacting respectively with the 2| Afor the reception of a force-transmitting chain or cable, and the bracket I2 is provided with a removable closure plate 22 for normally' concealing and protecting the mechanism housed therein. The gripping surfaces of the jaws I8, 20 are preferably roughened and are disposed substantially parallel to each other, as shown.

The pawls I3, I 4, which are cooperable with the notches or teeth II of the column I Il within the housing bracket I2, are also formed of steel or other suitable material; and the upper pawl I3 is swingably suspended from a pivot pin 23 carried by the forward ends of a pair of spaced side plates 24, 25. The rear ends of these side plates 24, 25 carry another pivot pin 25 disposed parallel to the front pin 23, and this rear pin 26 'is engaged by the upper end of a link 2l, the lower end of which is pivotally attached to the adjacent bifurcated end ofthe handilever- I5' by vmeans of another pin 28.* The medial portions of the side plates-24,' 25 are swingably mounted upon a main central pivot 29 disposed between and parallelto the pivot pins 23, 23, and this main pivot 29 is' carriedby the bracket I2 andprovides a suspension between theV plates 24, 25 for the lowerf pawl I4, ias clearly shown in Figs.` 4, 5, and 6. It should.N be noted thatthe effective leverage of A`Ythe jack mechanism may be readilyvariedby changing the distances between the pivot pins 23, 28l and the pivot 29; and that the pivot 29V is .fixed with respectito the bracket I2, whereas the pivot pins`23, 2,8 are movable relative to this bracket. g v

The'swinging end ofthe upper pawl lI31is constantly urged toward the teethY II of the column I9, by a relatively light coil spring 39 which embraces the pivot pin 23 and has its opposite ends ,coacting respectively with the pawl I3 vand' with a projection 3! extending laterally from the side plate 24. The 4swinging end of the lower pawl I4 is=1ikewise constantly urged toward the column teeth Hby a similarI relatively light coil spring 32 which embraces the main pivot 29 and has pawl I'4 and with a projection 33 also extending laterally from the side plate 24. The upper pawl I3 is, moreover, provided with a laterally projecting pin 34 disposed beyo-nd but near'the opposite side-plate 25, and the lower pawl I4 has a similarly located and projecting pin 35, these pins 34, 35 being cooperable with actuating surfaces of the tumblerV I6.

The adjustable reversing tumbler I5 may be "formed of any suitable material and has U- Yshaped cross-section providing spaced side walls Vbracket I2, so as to permit free swinging of the "tumbler I6 at all times.

Figs. 3, 4, and?, the side wall 3'I'of the tumbler As clearly shown in lfisprovided with abutments 39, which are respectively engageable with the pins 34, 35 of the pawlsf |3, l4 when the tumbler I6 is oscillated upon the pivot 29, and the tumbler side wall 31 is, moreover, provided with an integral actuating handle 4I which normally projects from within the bracket I2 thru a slot in the closure plate 22 so as to make the tumbler readily manipulable. The upper cross-member of the tumbler I 6, which is oscillatablc about the main pivot 29, carries a small roller 42 which is adapted to coact with spaced detents in a latch bar 43 as shown in Figs. 3 and li. The bar 43 hasparallel bores which slidably engage parallelguide rods 44 secured to the upper portion .of the bracket I2, and compression springs 45, which are interposed between the top wall of the bracket I2 and coact with sockets in the upper portion of the latch bar 43, serve to constantly urge the bar along the rods 44 and in contact with the roller WithV this arrangement ci elements, when the handle` 4I is swung upwardly as in Fig. 3, theV forward notch of the bar 43 engages the roller 42'tc hold the tumbler' I5 `in loweringY position; wl'lereas when the handle 4 I` is swungdownr as in 4, he rear notch of theibarengagesthei roller 52 to lock the tumbler in-elevating posi1-=l tion. The resiliency .aiforded bythe springsl obviously causes the tumbler I6 to advance from: one extreme tc the other, and viceversa, witha snap action.

The hand lever I5 is swingably supported upon Y the bracket I2 by a pivot 46 which is `held in place by the closure plate 22, and this closure plate may normally be held in position by screws. .The` lever I5, which may be of any` desirable length;`

also'has abutments 41 forlimiting .the swing'j;

thereof by coaction with the closure plate `22; y and the pivots 29, 46 may be normallyheld place by cotter pins as'shown, so thatwhen these pivots are withdrawn, theentire jackv actuating. and reversing mechanisms may be removed from.; within the bracket I2 upon removal of the closure plate 22. Y Y

During normal use of the improved jack,jthev mechanism may be utilized either as an ordinary, elevating and lowering device, as shownin full lines in Fig. l, or as a clamp withthe jawfl at-.j

tached to the upper end of the column I0;v as

shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. If 'the span is too great, an extension tube I9, suchj as` illustrated in Fig. 2, may be utilized, and this `tube I9 may be rigidly attachedrto the columnl` by pins I 'I and have a jaw I8 secured thereto for clamping purposes, as shown in full lines,V in Fig.. v

2; or it may be placed telescopically over the end of the column I0 and allowed to rest upon the bracket I2 with the upper jaw I8 reversed, for

lifting, purposes. vThe Vopening 2l also provides means for attaching a chain or cable to the mov-.fable element or bracket I2; for any desired purpose, thereby providing extreme flexibility in thej operation and use of the jack for diverse pur-,1; poses. The members `or jaws I8 are of identical construction, so that theymay be.- inter, changeably applied to either endl of the column li! or to the end of the tube IS. either asshown or in reversed position. Y

When the mechanism is positioned-as illustrated in Fig. 3, with the tumbler roller Y4 2engag-.j

ing the notch in the latch bar 43 nearest-the-colc umn I9, and no load is applied to the bracket I2, the pawls i3, I4 are completely removed from-V the teeth II by the abutments 39, 40-Which.engage the lateral pawl pins 34, 35 respectively.

With the jack thus completely unloaded, the'rela.-

tively light springs exert sufficient downward pressure upon the latch bar 43 to hold the tumbier-I6 against movement,` andto prevent lthe pawls"I3, J'III. from 'engaging the teeth VI I, thus permitting unobstructed sliding ofthe bracket I2 along vthe column I3 in either direction.

`Howevergwlien a rload is applied tothe element `or bracket I 2, with the tumbler- I 6in lowering position as illustrated in Fig. 3, this applicationlof fthe load immediately causes the tumbler roller 42 to move away from the element or column "I'0'to` a slight extent sufcient to cause both of thepawls I3, I4 to-'engage the teeth II and Vto preventdropping of the bracket I2. If the hand lever` I5isl subsequently'oscillated, the pawls I3, I4.willbe periodically released from the notches IIr to cause the'bracket I2, dueto its loading, to move downwardly by steps. During such oscilla'n tion of the hand lever I5, the tumbler I6 will also oscillate slightly'to intermittently release the pawls I3, I4 from the teeth II and to permit these pawls to re-engage the teeth. The oscillation of the tumbler I6 is not, however, suflicient to permit the roller 42 to enter the notch of the latch bar 43 which is farthest away from the column I0, but merely permits this roller to swing back and forth within the'notch which is nearest the column I0. In this manner gradual restrained lowering movement of the bracket I2 is effected when this bracket is subjected to load, and the action will take place even if the loading is relatively light.

When the mechanism is positioned as illus- Vtrated in Fig. 4, with the tumbler roller 42 engaging the notch in the latch bar 43 farthest from the column Ill, both pawls I3, I4 engage the teeth II since the abutments 39, 4i) of the tumbler IS are then withdrawn from the range of action of the pins 34, 35. With the tumbler IB in this position, oscillation of the actuating handle I5 will cause the pawls I3, i4 to ride upwardly along the teeth I I when the bracket I2 is being elevated, and will subsequently cause both pawls to hold the bracket against downward movement when the lever I5 is inactive. When the lever I5 is swung downwardly, the auxiliary pawl I3 is oscillated downwardly and produces lifting of the bracket I2, while the main pawl I4 simultaneously rides along the teeth II. When the lever I5 is swung upwardly, the auxiliary pawl I3 is moved upwardly along the teeth II, while the main pawl I4 holds the bracket I2 against downward movement. The tumbler I6 maintains its position during such elevating operation, being locked in elevating position by the latch bar 43.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the improved jack will permit effective raising and lowering of a load, and that the element or bracket l2 is freely adjustable along the element or column I 0 when the bracket is unloaded. However, when the bracket is loaded, the main pawl I4 is at .all times effective to prevent unintentional dropping of the load or release of the pressure; and the auxiliary pawl I3, cooperating with the tumbler I5, will permit raising or lowering of the loaded bracket I2 at the will of the operator. The spacing washers 38 function to prevent jamming of the tumbler I6, at all times, and this tumbler is freely adjustable even when the jack is subjected to the maximum load. rlhe latch bar 43 coacting with the tumbler roller 42 functions to lock the tumbler I6 in elevating position but merely holds the tumbler with a restraining pressure when this tumbler is in lowering position. 'I'he power output of the jack mechanism may be readily varied by varying the distances between the main pivot 29 and the pivot'pins 23?, 26, or Aby varying the distance between the pivot pins 28 and 46; and the actuating mechanism is readily accessible by merely removing the closure plateV 22.` `The entire mechanism is relatively simple and compact in construction andhas proven highly successful in actual vcommercial operation. 1

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and'to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various mod;- cations within the scope ofthe claimsmay occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: 1 i

1; A jack comprising, a column, a jawmovable along saidV column, a main pivot carried by said jaw, a main-pawl swingably suspended directly upon said pivot and cooperable with said column, a plate member swingably supported by said pivot, an auxiliary'pawl pivotally suspended from said plate member at one side of said main pivot and also cooperable with saidcolumn, oscillating means for said plate member coacting therewith at the opposite side of saidmain pivot, a U-shaped reversing tumbler swingably associated with said main pivot on opposite sides of said main pawl, and a latch bar resiliently mounted on said jaw and cooperable with said tumbler to lock the latter in elevating position.

2. A jack comprising, .a column, a jaw movable along said column, a main pivot carried by said jaw, a main pawl swingably suspended directly upon said pivot and cooperable with said column, .a plate member swingably supported by'said pivot, an auxiliary pawl pivotally suspended from said plate member at one side of said main pivot and also cooperable with said column, oscillating means for said plate member coacting therewith at the opposite side of said main pivot, a U- shaped reversing tumbler swingably associated with said main pivot on opposite sides of said main pawl, and .a resiliently supported latch bar carried by saidr jaw, said bar having a notch for locking said tumbler in elevating position and having another notch for holding the tumbler subject to a resilient restraining pressure when in lowering position.`

3. A jack comprising, a column, a -jaw movable along said column and having spaced walls, a main pivot carried by said walls, a main pawl .swingably suspended directly upon said pivot between said walls and cooperable with said column, a pair of plate members swingably supported by said pivot on opposite sides of said main pawl and between said walls, an auxiliary pawl pivotally suspended from said plate members at one side of said main pivot and also cooperable with said column, oscillating means forsaid plate members pivotally attached thereto at the opposite side of said main pivot, spacers interposed between said plate members and said walls, a U- shaped reversing tumbler swingable upon said spacers about the axis of said main pivot, and a resiliently supported latch carried by said jaw and cooperable with said tumbler to lock the same in elevating position.

4. A jack comprising, a column, a jaw movable along said column and having spaced walls, a

. main pivot carried by said walls, a main pawl swingably suspended directly upon said pivot between said walls and cooperable with said column, a pair of plate members swingably supported by said pivot on opposite sides of said main pawl and 'between said walls, an auxiliary pawl pvotally suspended from'said plate members at one side of saidmain pivot andalso cooperable with said column, oscillating means for said vplate members pivotally attachedthereto at the opposite side of said main pivot, spacing collars interposed between said plate members and said walls, a U-shaped reversing tumbler having side arms of less thickness than said collars swingably associated with the latter, and a spring pressed latch having positioning notches cooperable with said tumbler.

5. A jack comprising, a column, a jaw movable along said column and having spaced walls, a

said pivot on opposite sides of said main pawl and between said Walls, an auxiliary pawl pivotally suspended from said plate members at one'side of said main pivot and also cooperable with said column, oscillating means for said plate members pivotally attached theretov at the opposite side of said main pivot, spacing collars embracing said main pivot between said plate members and said walls, a U-shaped reversing tumbler having side arms of less thickness than said collars swingable upon the latter, and a spring pressed latch carried by said jaw and having one notch cooperable with said tumbler to lock the same in elevating position and another notch for holding the tumbler under a resilient restraining pressure in lowering position.

WESLEY J.A CosTIN. 

